There are a lot of things that gyms don’t want you to know, but probably the most important one is that they are unnecessary.

Gyms don’t want you to know that you can get the same benefits working out at home as you can at the gym. You don’t have to pay a membership, you don’t have to drive there during rush hour, and you don’t have to dress in a germy, crowded locker room.

Your body’s basic exercise movements are: push, pull, rotate, squat, and lunge. There are exercises that you can do without machines in the comfort of your own home, the park, or even your office that can cover all these bases.

In fact, you are better able to develop core stiffness without the use of gym machines, since using machines doesn’t recruit your core muscles while doing cardio exercises. When you’re doing free, functional exercise, your body’s natural balancing mechanisms kick in and get stronger, and that builds core strength. Just plain old walking is superior to machines–even ellipticals can increase lower back pain.

Thousands of people get sick or injured at the gym every year. You don’t have to pay for the privilege. You can get all the exercise you need at home.